Loop buckle



Patented Sept. 18, 1934 PATENT OFFICE LOOP BUCKLE Charles A. Mosgrove, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to The Autoyre Company, Incorporate-d, Oak-` ville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 30,

1'2 claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in loop buckles and has particular although not exclusive relation to loop buckles of the kind used in connection with the shoulder straps of overalls for securing the shoulder straps to the overall bib portion.

An object of the invention is to provide a loop buckle, of the kind including a pair of pointed prongs to pierce a strap and thereby secure the buckle to the strap, with means to prevent casual openingk of the pointed prongs of the buckle whereby in use the prongs will remain in position against a cross or guard bar and not open to catch in or tear the hands or clothing.

Another object is to provide a loop buckle comprising a partially closed loop including a cross or guard bar, a button loop pivoted om said partially closed loop, and piercing prongs formed with the button loop.

. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims to which claims reference should be had for a deiinition of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing the improved loop buckle;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational viewthereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, the view being taken substantially on the line 3 of Fig. 1 Vbut showing the buckle in position on the strap;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view on an enlarged scale showing moreclearly the relationship between the two members forming the buckle at their point of pivotal connection;

Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 4 but with the guard member turned back into a position substantially at right angles to the prongs;

Fig. 6 is a `rear elevational view showing the upper portion of a slightly modied form of the invention; Y

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper portion of the buckle showing a somewhat different construction; and

Fig. 8 is an end view of the buckle of Fig. 'I showing it in open position.

Referring in detail to the drawing my improved buckle as here shown includes a guard member 1931, serial No. 571,951`

10 to which is pivotally connected a prong carrying member 11 disclosed as a button loop. The members 10 and 11 are adapted for relative pivotal movement whereby to open the buckle and permit of the attaching of the buckle to and adjustment of the buckle on a strap 12 as for example av shoulder strap of a pair of overalls.

Member 10 is preferably formedfrom a single lengthY of material bent to provide a partially closed loop including a top or cross bar 13 and side arms 14 inclining downwardly and toward one another for a short distance as at 15 and then having their ends out turned and curled to provide loops or eyes 16. AAt spaced points intermediate its ends the cross bar 13 is provided with spaced indentures or depressions 1'? formed by depressing portions ofA the material forming the bar. As `the depressions or indentures 17 are formed a portion of the material at the upper edge of the bar is drawn into position to provide an overhanging flange 18 the purpose of which will later appear. Also, the portions of the material of the bar at the sides of the indentures may be shaped to provide beads 19 which together with flange 18form a U-shaped flange extending about the outer edge and sides of the indentures.

The prong carrying member 11 is also preferably formed from a single length of material as for example a length of round wire. In the formation of the member 11 the wire is bent to provide a relatively small eye 20 to receive a button on the garment to be supported and connected by a restricted neck portion 21 with a relatively large eye 22. Beyond the neck 21 the member 11 has its arms 23 extending in opposite directions and upwardly and these arms are then bent to provide substantially parallel vertical portions 24 from the upper ends of which the arms extend inwardly toward each other for a short distance as at 25 and then incline toward each other for a short distance as shown at 26. After the portions 26 the arms are again bent into a substantially lhorizontal position as at 27 before being turned into vertical substantially parallel relation to form the prongs 28. If desired, the prongs may have their ends cut at an angle whereby sharp points are provided.

When the members 10 and 11 are assembled it is'the substantially horizontal portions 27 of the member 11 that are received in the eyes or loops 16 formed at the ends of the arms of the memberl. The fit ofthe portions 27 in the eyes or loops 16 is such that the members 10 and 11 may have relative pivotal movement and at this time attention is directed to the fact that the portions 27 are of somewhat greater length than the bearing surfaces provided by the eyes or loops 16. It will also be noted that the depressions or indentures 17 are so located as to receive the pointed ends of the prongs 28 when the members 10 and 11 are assembled and the parts positioned to dispose the ends of the prongs against the cross bar 13. In this position of the prongs their sharp or pointed ends will be covered by the lip or flange 18 and there will be no likelihood of the wearer tearing his hands or his` clothing on the prongs.

the buckles become slightly worn after use and then become loose and open partially so that the ends of the prongs are exposed and liable to be caught on the hands or clothing. It will be obvious that in the present construction should any relative movement take place between the members l0 and 11 when the prongs have their ends disposed against the cross bar 13 and within the depressions 17 the ends of the prongs would K be left disposed in spaced relation to the bottom thereon. Also according to the present inven- Aze in said bar.

tion means are provided for preventing accidental relative movement between the parts'lO and 11 when the parts in such position as to dispose the free ends of the prongs' 28 against the cross bar 13 whereby said ends will remain l 16, the said notches being adapted to receive the 1 upper portions of the inclined portions'26 of the arms of loop or member 11 when the members 10 and 11 are so positioned relatively that the prongs 28 have their ends disposed against the cross bar 13 or within the depressions or indentations 17 As clearly shown in Fig. 5 the bottom and sides of the notches 29 are represented by a curved line. Since the member 11 is formed of wire or the like it is relatively iiexible and resilient and its arms 23 may be spread apart out of their normal position and due to the inherent resiliency of the member will tend to return to normal position.

The member 11 should have the characteristic just described to permit the arms to spread apart to permit the passage of the shank of a button through the restricted neck portion 21. Further, the length of the portions 27'of the respective arms is as above pointed out somewhat greater than the length of the loops or eyes 16 or somewhat greater than the bearing surface presentedV 5i inner edges of the eyes 16.

As the member 11 is resilient and as its portions 26 enter the notches 29 when the parts or members 16 and 11 are so positionedrelatively that the ends of the prongs 28 are against the bar 13 it will be apparent that the parts are yieldingly held in this position by coaction of the camming action of the curved edges of recesses or notches 29 against the shoulders formed by the portions 26 pressing against them by the resilient or spring action of wire 11. It will further be ap- .theother the portions 26 of the arms will be engaging the straight edges or the straight porwhereby the prongs are moved as for example from the dotted line position of Fig. 5 to the full line position of the figure. When one of the Heretofore in loop buckles employing .prongs members 10 and 1l has been moved relative to tions of the outer edges of the eyes or loops 16 and the parts will remain in adjusted position. This is true since the arms of the loop member 11 will be tending to move toward or return to normal position and they will therefore Vgrip the eyes 16.

From the foregoing it will be seen that once the buckle has been closed or the'members forming the buckle adjusted to the relative positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1V through 4 they will not casually move out of such position and the pointed ends of the prongs 28 will remain againstthe cross bar 13 and not be in position to v N tear the hands or clothing. Further, since spaced 105 depressions or indentures are provided to receive the pointed ends of the prongs if they should separate-slightly from the bottom walls of depressions 17 they would still be guarded or covered by iianges 18 so as to prevent the userinjuring himself on them. Also with these depressions the major portion of the member 10 remains flat and may be decorated as by swaging as shown at 31 in Figs. 1 and 4.

Inthe figures as thus far described the depressions or indentures 17 are partially formed by oilsetting portions of the cross bar whereby said portions project slightly at the rear of the cross bar as shown at 30, see particularly Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 is shown a slightly modified construction Wherein'the indentures or depressions are formed without depressingthe material of the bar 13 through the rear surface thereof and in this gure the rear surface of bar 13 is shown as perfectly smooth and at.

1n Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a somewhat different construction for preventing the buckleopening accidentally. In this form instead of forming a recess as at 29 to secure the camming and holdy ing action, a lug or projection 32 is swedged on 13S the edge of the frame at the pivot eyes or loops for the arms of the loop and prong member 11. The edges of these lugs are curved as shown at 34 so as to tend to spread the resilient arms of member 11 whenl it is turned on its pivot and 135 thus resist this turning movement and tend to hold the prongs 28 in the closed position the same as in the rstvform. Y r

An additional feature shown in Figs-7 and y. 8 which may also be used in the form of Figs. 1 14g to 5 is a stop lug35 on the opposite side of the eye or pivot loop from the cam. As shownV inf Fig. 8, when the buckle is open the prongs 28 engage this lug and prevent the buckle lopening. any iurther. The prongs cannot move inwardly 1&5 to pass over these lugs as they are prevented from doing so by the cam surfaces engaging the shouldered or bent portions 26. Ifpreferred the cam surfaces can be on the member 11 and cooperating with the sides of the arms of the frame.

members against casual relative movement when the prongs are against the cross bar.

2. In a buckle, a member comprising a cross bar and a pair of arms having pivot loops, a second member pivotally mounted on said first member in said loops .and including a pair of prongs movable between a position against and a position spaced from said cross bar as the members are pivoted relatively, and cams on the edges of the loops to engage the other member for holding the members against casual relative movement when the prongs are against the cross bar.

3. In a loop buckle, a member comprising a cross bar and a pair of arms, a second member pivotally mounted on said first member, said second member including a pair of spaced relatively movable arms having their free ends disposed in substantially parallel relation to provide a pair of prongs,said prongs movable between a position against and a position spaced from the cross bar as the members are pivoted relatively, means preventing casual pivotal movement between the members when the prongs are against the cross bar, and the arms of the second member adapted to be spread apart to permit of pivotal movement oi one or the members relative to the other thereof when the prongs are against the cross bar.

4. In a loop buckle, a member comprisingv a cross bar and a pair of arms extending from the cross bar, another member having a pair of arms with their free end portions arranged to provide a pair of prongs, one of said members including a pair of loops formed by its arms, the other of said members having portions of its arms arranged in said loops whereby the members are pivotally connected, said members movable relatively to locate said prongs against the cross bar or in spaced relation thereto, one of said loops having a notch' in its outer edge, and the arm passing through said loop having a portion to enter said notch and secure the members together against casual relative movement when the prongs are against the cross bar.

5. In a loop buckle, a member comprising a cross bar and a pair of arms extending from the cross bar, another member having a pair of arms with their free end portions arranged to provide a pair of prongs, said rst member including a pair of loops formed by the end portions of its arms, the other of said members having portions of its arms arranged in said loops whereby the members are pivotally connected, said members movable relatively to locate said prongs against the cross bar or in spaced relation thereto, each of said loops having a notch in its outer edge, and the arms passing through said loops having a portion to enter said notches and secure the members together against casual relative movement when the prongs are against the cross bar, and said arms adapted to spread apart to move said portions out of the notches on the application of -lorce to move the members relatively.

6. In a loop buckle, a member comprising a cross bar and a pair of arms, a second member pivotally mounted on said rst member and inviiange extending about the outer edge and the sides of each of said indentures.

'7. In a loop buckle, a member comprising a cross bar and a pair of arms extending from the cross bar, a button loop pivotally connected with the member, said button loop comprising a length of wire bent to provide a relatively large eye, a relatively small eye, a restricted neck portion connecting said eyes and a pair of prongs, said member and button loop movable one relative to the other on said pivotal connection whereby to dispose the ends of the prongs against the cross bar or in spaced relation thereto, and means at the pivotal connection between the member and loop for holding them against casual relative movement on their pivotal connection when the prongs are against the cross bar.

8. In a loop buckle, a body member having pivot loops, a web securing member having resilient arms pivoted to the body member by passing through said loops, said arms connected at one side of said loops and sharpened at the other sides thereof and forming web penetrating and holding prongs, and camming surfaces on edges of the loops engaging said arms and cooperating therewith to tend to hold the securing member in web securing position.

9. In a loop buckle, a body member having pivot loops, a web securing member having arms pivoted to the body member by passing through said loops, said arms connected at one side of said loops and sharpened at the other sides thereof and forming web penetrating and holding prongs, camming surfaces on edges of said loops to engage the other member, and one of said members being resilient to cooperate with said cam surfaces to tend to hold the securing member in web holding position.

10. In a loop buckle, a body member having arms providing pivot loops, a resilient web holding member having portions pivoted in said loops, cam surfaces on the edges of said loops cooperating with said portions to retain the holding member in holding position, and a stop shoulder on said loops to engage the holding member to limit relative movement between the members.

1l. In a loop buckle, a body member having arms providing pivot loops, a resilient web holding member having portions pivoted in said loops and prongs to hold the web, cam surfaces on certain edges of the loops to cooperate with said pivoted portions to retain the web holding member in holding position, and lugs on other edges of the loops to engage the prongs and limit their movement toward open position.

12. In a loop buckle, a body member having arms providing pivot loops, a resilient web holding member having portions passing through and pivoted in said loops, said portions connected at one side of said loops and extending in spaced relation at the other sides thereof and comprising web penetrating and holding prongs and cam surfaces on the edgesv of said loops cooperating with said portions to retain the holding member in holding position.

CHARLES A. MOSGROVE. 

